Two Ocean Tides per Day: Why? ()
ABSTRACT
Ocean
semi-diurnal tides are suggested qualitatively to be more accurately explained
by the vertical tide generating forces of the sun and moon, not by the
historically standard horizontal components. It is proposed that the sea level
elevations created sequentially at the eastern and then western ocean coastal
boundaries propagate seaward as shallow water surface gravity waves and interact without mutual disturbance. In that
manner two tides per day are created. Horizontal tide forces generate
horizontal ocean currents with speeds of 5 mph at the most. Shallow water tide
waves move at about 500 mph in open waters and therefore come much closer to
being in tune with the sun and moon transiting across the sky.